Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
I linked my fingers through hers and brought the back of her hand to my face. Her skin was so soft, and I closed my eyes as I brushed my lips against her hand.
“Come back to me, Allie,” I whispered. “Please.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven – Alicia
The Original Alicia
I was back at Stein Castle.
No, my body wasn’t.
This was… a memory.
But it wasn’t mine. Not in this life.
Stein Castle wasn’t this lively. Endless streams of people were running in and out of the castle gates—everyone from happy children to vendors with their carts and carriages being pulled by horses. Laughter rang out through the air as both nobles and commoners mixed together, and there was a pang in my heart at the sight.
This was familiar.
This… was preparations for Kalon’s birthday party.
How did I know that? We hadn’t spent a birthday together.
My viewpoint changed from the front of the castle to a room I vaguely recognised as Kalon’s office. He sat in his place behind the desk, just as handsome as he was now, but perhaps another couple of years older.
“Your Highness!” The office door burst open, and a frazzled Sir Hayes darted into the room. “The Crown Princess won’t stay in bed!”
The who now?
“Stop fussing, Hayes,” my own voice said. “I haven’t thrown up today, and I need to stretch my legs.”
Alicia appeared in the doorway, wearing a dress that flowed gently over a small baby bump.
Oh, God.
I was pregnant in this timeline.
And… the Crown Princess?
What kind of hinky dinky bullshit had happened here?
“B-but, Your Highness!” Hayes held up his hands. “I told you I’d get Crown Prince Kalon, and he would carry you!”
“No, you offered to carry me.”
Kalon glared at Sir Hayes. “I see you don’t need your hands anymore, Hayes.”
Sir Hayes sighed, his shoulders drooping. “The doctor said she needs to rest.”
“I cannot spend every waking moment in my bed. That’s not good for us, either.” Alicia smoothed her hand over her stomach as she sat down. “I promise I’ll go back to bed soon.”
“She’ll be perfectly fine in here with me, Hayes,” Kalon reassured him. “Let her sit for a while, especially if she’s not feeling sick. It’s the first day in a while.”
“But Rina will be looking for her when she’s done leading training.” Sir Hayes pressed his fingers to his temples. “You know how she yells at me if she can’t find her.”
“Honestly, anyone would think Rina was in charge of the knightage these days. If you don’t want to be shouted at, then tell your wife where Allie is before she comes back on duty and finds her lady missing.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Wife? Rina and Sir Hayes were married in this timeline?
Plot twist!
Sir Hayes sighed. “Yes, sir. I’ll be off, then.”
Alicia beamed at him. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell Rina it was all my fault. She won’t be mad.”
“I’m afraid it’s your world and we’re all just living in it, Your Highness.” He sighed on his way out.
The door clicked shut, and Kalon peered over the desk at Alicia, smiling in a way I’d come to know so well. “You shouldn’t tease him. You know he’s only looking out for you.”
“Speak for yourself. You tease him all the time.”
“He should know better than to listen to idle threats of me cutting off his hands.”
“Indeed. Who would do your paperwork when you’re slacking off if he didn’t have hands?”
“Exactly. Besides, he’ll need them to look after Stein as the duke once we move to the palace full-time.” Kalon grinned, getting up and walking around the desk to Alicia. “Come and sit with me on the sofa.”
“I didn’t come here to distract you from your work, you know.” She let him gently pull her to her feet and drop a soft kiss on her lips.
“It’s only a short break.” He pulled her down onto the sofa next to him and held her close, laying one hand on her rounded stomach. “Are you sure you’re feeling well?”
She nodded and touched his face. “I am. I just wanted to see you. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” He nuzzled in close to her and opened his mouth to speak, but the scene before me changed again.
A garden.
It was one of the outer gardens in the castle, and I knew it was one that was used for outdoor gatherings. The occasion was Kalon’s birthday, as I’d suspected, and there were so many people here.
And Kalon was smiling.
My heart swelled at the sight of people I knew and cared deeply for having so much fun. From what I could tell, all these scenes appear to have happened over a period of a couple of days, and they were all happy.
Why was God showing me this?
Was this really my past life?
Was I really Alicia? And if so, who had been in this body before me? What had happened to my soul?